Is the Saitex X56 Rhino just garbage or is it me?

[USSR]

Thoughts, anyone?

I can't get this stick to fly precisely in pitch and roll. Yaw is dull too.

Edited April 14 by USSR

[BZALGO]

It is garbage, you are fine. And this is not a "I had a bad experience" (which I did). If you mention the X-56 to anyone in the /HOTAS reddit, they will tell you the same story. We all fell for the trick of buying something that sounded decent (Saitek or Logitech) at a price that suggested a mid-tier product, and found a mess of a joystick, to work properly, you need to almost follow a ritual of turning off all RGB lights, connecting only to a USB 2.0 port and nothing else, move the throttle constantly or risk it to get it stuck, buttons that you have to pull back, 4 way hats and only work 3 or even 2 ways, constant drifting on the stick.

Perhaps the worst purchase I ever did on my life. 

[Minstrel]

Mine works fine.

[Rocket_Knut]

Ten plus year old design: Check

Based on an even older design: Check

Shoddy build quality: Check

Zero improvements over its life cycle: Check

Still advertised at 300 Euros: Check (Yes, I am ignoring the current temporary discount)

 

By the way, it´s not the in game Spitfire, you´re having issues with, is it?

[USSR]

On 4/15/2026 at 7:08 PM, Rocket_Knut said:

By the way, it´s not the in game Spitfire, you´re having issues with, is it?

No. Everything. Dogfighting in my favourites, Me109, I-16, Yaks etc. Even when you setup up a curve with no dead zone. one opens up at lower speeds or in turns and then you over-control and PIO (pilot induced oscillation)

No precision. I've had PS2 controllers that were more precise. 

[Rocket_Knut]

@USSR 

I don´t use curves and dead zones. Despite this and the points mentioned above (nowhere near a complete list), using the X-56 for a decade now, I don´t have complaints regarding precision controlling the in game A-20, the type I play the most.

However, recently I noticed a change in behavior of the thing. Flaps seem to create more drag on landing, trim seems a lot less effective, that kind of stuff. Still able to point the thing where I want it to and make a decent landing. Have to somehow relearn it to a degree though.

The Spitfire on the other hand... Well it feels like the control cables are made out of rubber band... You know: a/c trimmed out nicely. Then you pull a bit, nothing, nothing, still nothing, and all of a sudden the thing pitches up violently. And this behavior doesn´t seem to be related to the X-56 alone. 

Anyway, if yours is rubbish, if you haven´t already, refund it and go for a serious bit of kit. And then maybe report your progress here? Would be interesting to learn about the differences. Cheers!

[Aapje]

The issue with poor quality control is that people are going to have different experiences depending on how good or poorly their unit is assembled.

[USSR]

11 hours ago, Rocket_Knut said:

@USSR 

I don´t use curves and dead zones. Despite this and the points mentioned above (nowhere near a complete list), using the X-56 for a decade now, I don´t have complaints regarding precision controlling the in game A-20, the type I play the most.

However, recently I noticed a change in behavior of the thing. Flaps seem to create more drag on landing, trim seems a lot less effective, that kind of stuff. Still able to point the thing where I want it to and make a decent landing. Have to somehow relearn it to a degree though.

The Spitfire on the other hand... Well it feels like the control cables are made out of rubber band... You know: a/c trimmed out nicely. Then you pull a bit, nothing, nothing, still nothing, and all of a sudden the thing pitches up violently. And this behavior doesn´t seem to be related to the X-56 alone. 

Anyway, if yours is rubbish, if you haven´t already, refund it and go for a serious bit of kit. And then maybe report your progress here? Would be interesting to learn about the differences. Cheers!

I too have noticed a change in behaviour in flaps. Mine was a private purchase, and to be honest, I didn't use it immediately because I had other issues to deal with. Now I have found the time to get back in flight sims I have set it up and am very disappointed.

And this is very much what I am experiencing too, but with all single engine fighters.

The Spitfire on the other hand... Well it feels like the control cables are made out of rubber band... You know: a/c trimmed out nicely. Then you pull a bit, nothing, nothing, still nothing, and all of a sudden the thing pitches up violently. And this behavior doesn´t seem to be related to the X-56 alone. 

 

[USSR]

So I had a thought...

What if the stick just needs an update?

I downloaded the Logistech software for calibrating this stick, and put in flat, straight line profile, no bourgeois decadent arcs or bows or deadzones. Then I did the same to the ingame profiles. Just good, wholesome communist completely straight lines. Essentially identical linear profiles in all axes. Then I restarted my PC

And it is much better. It's not perfect, but it holds steady. I don't overcontrol or PIO anymore and my landings are much better.

I think I deserve an HOTSU medal for this discovery.

Edited April 25 by USSR

[Rocket_Knut]

So it is just you, right?! 

[USSR]

Yeah. I hadn't updated the firmware. I've had this stick a while, but never found time to use it. 

[Rocket_Knut]

2 hours ago, USSR said:

"... I hadn't updated the firmware..."

Neither had Logitec. If I remeber correctly, they didn´t update their HOTAS software for years. You can´t improve on perfection I guess... 

[AndreiTomescu]

[USSR]

On 4/25/2026 at 6:47 PM, AndreiTomescu said:

My Moscow career pilot Vasilii Borodinskii just got his first one after 15 missions and 17 kills. First 7 missions didn't get anything as the stick was so bad. Then after updates, I luckily got two Ju52s as one I shot down hit another, and next mission bounced four Me109E7s coming out of a dive after doing their ground attack 'Tactical Emil' thing. Tried to make it 5 but a Friedrich turned up and shot me up badly, so I bailed out over friendly territory.  That was the HoTSU winning mission. 

Edited April 28 by USSR

[AndreiTomescu]

Good job, Vasi ! First of all, the stick was the Army responsability. Providing Vasilii with bad gear should be reported to the political officer in charge. Let the Party decide what's best. But again, better not: HoTSU doesn't protect Vasi from gulag. 🙂 

Where have you met Vasi? Stock career or PWCG ?

And as you might notice, that HoTSU was awarded to our comrade @USSR, for solving smart and easy the stick issue. Still, pls belive me that the comrades from Virpil do really good job. It really makes a difference.